Inhalation-initiated aerosol dispenser

ABSTRACT

For dispensing to a respiratory patient single discharges of metered aerosol medication, a conventional aerosol container designed to deliver in response to a single actuation a metered amount of aerosol compound, is combined with a chamber partly formed by a breath-operated membrane linked with a springretained catch and latch actuator which on release by the inhalation-deflected membrane presses on the metering valve of the container delivering a single discharge in exactly timed relation with the patient&#39;&#39;s breathing, and also opens a valve communicating with the outside, to admit free air during the final part of the aerosol discharge for continued inhalation. The actuator linkage and the air valve have to be reset by hand to ready the device for the next cycle of operation. In an especially compact embodiment, a unitary housing fully encloses the aerosol bottle which is inserted through an opening closed by a retention cover hinged to the housing. A flexible strap serves as a protective cover for the mouthpiece and the air ingress valve, as well as for resetting the mechanism which it locks when covering the valve and the mouthpiece. The actuator linkage has two straight levers at right angles with the catch and latch at their intersection, and the spring tangentially correlated with the breath-responsive membrane.

United States Patent 1151 3,636,949 Krupp 1 51 Jan. 2%,, 1972 541INHALATION-INITIATED AEROSOL 3,565,070 2/1971 Hanson et al. ..12s/173DISPENSER Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet [72] Inventor: Willis A.Kropp, Warner, N.H. Assistant Examiner- Kyle L Howell [73] Assignee:Armstrong-Krupp Development Corp., AHOmey Robens Cushman & Grover WestRoxbury, Mass. [57] ABSTRACT [22] Flled: I 1969 For dispensing to arespiratory patient single discharges ofme- [21] App1.No.: 850,694 teredaerosol medication, a conventional aerosol container designed to deliverin response to a single actuation a metered Related PP Data amount ofaerosol compound, is combined with a chamber [63] continuationdmpan ofSer No 759 652 Sept 13 partly formed by a breath-operated membranelinked with a 1968 abandoned springretained catch and latch actuatorwhich on release by the inhalation-deflected membrane presses on themetering [52] us CL n 128/173 R 128/208 128/211 valve of the containerdelivering a single discharge in exactly [51] Int Cl "7 Afilm 11/00timed relation with the patients breathing, and also opens a [58] Field185 194 valve communicating with the outside, to admit free air during 621 the final part of the aerosol discharge for continued inhalation. Theactuator linkage and the air valve have to be reset by [56] ReferencesCited hand to ready the device for the next cycle ofoperation.

In an especially compact embodiment, a unitary housing fully UNITEDSTATES PATENTS encloses the aerosol bottle which is inserted through anopen- 2,535,844 12/1950 Emerson 128/211 X ing closed by a retentioncover hinged to the housing A flexi' 3,001,524 9/1961 Maison et a1..12s/20s x ble Strap Serves as a Protective cover for the mouthpieceand 3,157,179 11/1964 Paullus et a1 ..12s 211 the air ingress valve, aswell as fur resetting the mechanism 3 37 743 19 5 Mitchel] et 1 ug 173which it locks when covering the valve and the mouthpiece. 3 35 0 3 2 197 Nelson ug 3 The actuator linkage has two straight levers at rightangles 3,456,644 7/1969 Thiel ...I28/173 with the catch and latch attheir intersection, and the Spring 3,456,645 7/1969 Brock 1 28/173tangentially correlated with the breath-responsive membrane. 3,456,6467/1969 Ph1111ps et a1. 128/173 22 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures I r m#:111111 Q /2 /0Z8 1 /0Z i 6/ 4 I32 f K 1; 14 Q 1 M 1- 1 i l z 6 l0; ;1100 I 1/ 156 "I1 I20./ 1| 1 it ll 1] I8! 186 A? [I lgz /9,2, 1 |//4 u Ii 1,

n90 v M M/ Y I. 49/ )\1%;ia\\\*hj m9 PATENTEDJA-251972 SHEET 1 OF 6 i21.2 five/afar h Willi? x. 19-0,

I; r In PATENTEDJANZSBYZ 3.636.949

SHEET 3 [IF 6 3.636549 PATENTEI] M25 r972 sum u or 6 PATENTED JANZS 1972SHEET 5 0F 6 INHALATION-INITIATED AEROSOL DISPENSER The presentinvention is a continuation-impart of the copending application ofWillis A. Kropp, Ser. No. 759,652, filed Sept. I3, 1968, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The inventionrelates to medicators of the type which dispense an atomized compoundfrom an aerosol container for inhalation such as by respiratory tractpatients.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is now fairly common practice todispense pharmaceutical compounds from aerosol devices which upontriggering by finger depression of their valves eject a metered amountof the pressurized compound. Such finger-operated devices are less thanfully satisfactory because of the difficulty of obtaining exactcorrelation of their control with the breathing rhythm of the patient.Especially in the case of children and aged people, the patient is inmany instances unable to coordinate his breathing with the valvemanipulation. Also, conventional devices of this type do notsufficiently guard against the application of overdosages of respiratorydrugs which are sometimes very potent and may produce unwanted sideeffects. Dangerous overdosage is not at all uncommon with suchconventional devices because their users are mainly patients who areshort of breath and liable to experience confused breathing of irregularcycle. Such patients are tempted to provide additional inhalation bytriggering their device when they sense that their breathing is not deepenough or that the previously discharged inhalation was not applied atthe most advantageous portion of the breathing cycle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objects of the present invention are to avoidthe above mentioned difficulties with conventional aerosol respiratorydevices, by positively providing a single exactly metered discharge whenthe inhalation force has reached the most suitable level for acceptingmedication, and by allowing for the deepest possible penetration intothe patients respiratory tract.

Specifically, the operational object of this invention includes controlby optimizing two factors. On the one hand, the preferred embodimentaffords sufficient breath-actuated pressure resulting from adequate areaso as to make available sufficient force to operate the release valvewith ample safety factor. On the other hand, sufficient breath potentialor differential with respect to atmosphere is required to initiateoperation and subsequent rapid passage of air and pressurized medicamentinto the respiratory area as the two pressure differentials areequalized which may be likened to an implosion wherein air under ambientpressure rushes to fill a void or partial void. This implosion principlefacilitates deeper medica ment penetration, In addition the presentinvention provides any desired degree of volume so that operation islimited to lung inhalation rather than sucking which is caused by checkcontraction which is high in pressure differential but low in volume.Evidence of sufficient volume within the breath chamber responds to therelatively low pressure differential and high volume of lung inhalationand this precludes operation by sucking even though sucking force ismuch higher than inhalation force.

Further objects are to minimize overdosage by requiring manual resettingprevious to each discharge, to amplify prior to use the minimal powersource which an average person can produce by way of an inhalationpressure, namely approximately one-half p.s.i.g. to make operationindependent of correlation between spontaneous breathing and consciousvalve operation, and to utilize the metering provisions of readilyavailable aerosol devices which provide the metered recharge immediatelyupon each previous discharge without a special metering manipulation.

Objects peculiar to the second embodiment described are optimalcompactness, built-in provisions whose use is in hcrently induced aftercompleted inhalation for the purpose of resetting the mechanism as wellas completely closing all openings of the dispenser permitting it to becarried in a pocket or bag, and, in spite of complete safety andeffective ness in operation, inexpensive construction and manufacturewhich permit use either as a disposable or as a reusable appliance.

For accomplishing these and other objects, the invention combines aconventional aerosol container designed to furnish upon pressureexertion on its nozzle member a single metered discharge, withdischargeactuating mechanism within a control chamber which receives thenozzle member through a sealed opening. The control chamber has, inaddition to a sealing opening for the aerosol container, a movable wallportion (such as a membrane, bellows, or piston component) ofappreciable area to provide ample unit pressure, an inhalation anddischarge aperture for the user, and an air admission valve port. Thedischarge-actuating mechanism within the chamber is capable of storingenergy for release as a force operating the valve nozzle member, and avalve body for closing the valve port during energy-storing condition.The actuating mechanism releases the operating force responsive tomovement of the said wall portion in response to a pressure transfermember, when the pressure within the chamber is reduced by inhalation atthe discharge aperture. In the embodiment described, the actuatingmechanism includes a catch which upon movement by the breath-deflectablemember releases a normally engaged latch in response to a. deflectinginhalation. The released latch puts into action a spring which causesthe mechanism to press on the nozzle member of the aerosol container torelease a single metered discharge, and to move the valve body to openthe valve port. The actuating mechanism is very compact so that thecontrol chamber can have ample volume with a large breath-responsivewall portion, giving the beneficial effect herein explained.

Repetition of the single discharge cycle is possible only uponreengagement of catch and latch and tensioning of the spring by manualresetting of the mechanism, such as by a flexible member projecting fromthe valve body through the valve port.

The breath-deflectable wall portion exerts unit pressure on atransmitting member and triggers the actuating mechanism, whereas thenozzle pressure force is supplied by the spring.

In one embodiment described, the latch and the catch are carried atadjacent ends of levers such as two bellcranks pivoted on the chamberwall, the spring is floatingly arranged between the two cranks, and thebreath-deflectable member is a membrance stretched over a window of thechamber which membrane is force transmittingly associated with the catchlever by way of a pressure plate that is linearly guided within thechamber.

In the second embodiment described, the latch and the catch are disposedon straight levers arranged at right angles with the latch and the catchat their intersection, the catch responding to the breath-actuated wallportion. This mechanism is actuated by a spring which, upon release bythe catch of one lever, of the latch of the other lever, forces thelatter to impinge on the nozzle piece of the aerosol dispenserassociated therewith. The spring biases the movable wall portiondirectly, by tangential contact therewith. The resetting mechanism is astrap wide enough to serve as a cover for the air admission valve portand for the inhalation aperture on which it can be locked. This strap,when pulled without closing aperture and valve, resets the actuatingmechanism to tensioned position ready for inhalation release. However,when the inhalation aperture and the value port are closed, the unitwill not operate, since the closing of aperture and port serves the dualpurpose of sealing and preventing spurious operation while in transit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of thedevice according to a first embodiment of the invention, seen from theside of the mouthpiece;

FIG. 2 is a section on lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section similar to FIG. 2 of the control compartment only,with the air valve open, the latch and catch levers disengaged uponactuation of the membrane, and with the aerosol container discharging;

FIG. 4 is a section on lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a section on lines 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 indicates a modification with undivided casing;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section on line 2-2 indicating a modificationwith a bellows device instead of the membrane of FIGS. 2 to 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section on line 2-2 indicating a furthermodification with a piston instead of the membrane;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation and FIG. 10 is a top view of a secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a section on lines 11-11 of FIG. 9 showing the resetting andcover mechanism in locked position, with the latch slightly beyondcocking position to permit return to latch and catch engagement afteraccidental depression of the membrane;

FIG. 12 is a fractional section similar to FIG. 11 but showing latch andcatch in cocked position upon unlocking and release of the resettingstrap;

FIG. 13 is a section similar to FIG. 11, showing the dispenser inoperation during inhalation;

FIG. 14 is a section on lines 14-14 ofFIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a section on lines 15-15 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is a fractional section on line 16 ofFIG. 11, showing the hingeof the bottle holder;

FIG. 17 is a view ofthe multiple purpose strap;

FIG. 18 is a front elevation of the discharge nozzle;

FIG. 19 is a bottom view of the discharge nozzle; and

FIG. 20 is an elevation of the linking lever.

DESCRIPTION OF A FIRST EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, theapparatus according to this embodiment of the invention is completelyenclosed in a casing 10 which is divided into a control and dischargechamber 11 and a container shell 12. The chamber 11 and the shell 12 arejoined by means of a bayonet joint as indicated at 14 of FIG. 1. Theshell carries a pin and the chamber a corresponding slot 14.1 whichconstitute the said bayonet connection. The shell 12 has an elasticmember, such as rubber biasing cushion 15 (FIG. 2) and the chamber has asealing gasket 16 which together securely hold the conventional aerosolbottle 20 within the shell, between the shell bottom 12.1 and the ledge21 of the chamber which surrounds an opening 20.1 for the neck of thebottle. The discharging valve nozzle 21.1 of the container, on stem21.2, reaches well into the chamber into the proximity of, and foractuation by the projection 68 of lever 61, as will be described below.The compartment 11 has four indentations 18.1, 18.2 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and4) and 19.1, 19.2 (FIGS. 2, 4) which form interior recessesaccommodating the actuating mechanism and provide walls for mountingpins, as will be described below.

The control and discharge chamber 11 has the above-mentionedbottle-holding ledge and indentations, and in addition a mouthpiece 22constituting a suction and discharge aperture, an actuator window 23,and a valve port 24. The actuator window is covered by anair-pressure-deflectable member such as a plastic membrane 26 stretchedover the opening of window 23 and suitably sealed to the adjacent rim23.1 of the compartment.

A pressure member 31 has a flat disc-shaped portion 32 inforce-transmitting relationship with the air-pressure-deflectable membersuch as membrane 26. Two arms 33 and 34 extend downwardly from the disc32. These arms carry pins 36 and have slots 37, 38 (FIGS. 2, 3, and 5).The slots 37, 38 slide on a pin 39 pressed into the walls 41, 42 formedby the indentations 19.1, 19.2, as indicated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. Asshown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 the pin 39 also serves as a pivot for thehub 62 of the actuating lever to be described hereinbelow, in additionto guiding the slots 37 and 38 of arms 33 and 34.

A linking lever 51 is pivoted on pin 52 fixed on the walls 43, 44 of theindentations 18.1, 18.2 mentioned above, as shown in FIG. 4. Thislinking lever is a bellcrank with a hub 53 (FIG. 4) for pin 52. One arm51.5 has at its end a catch surface 55 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The other arm51.2 is forked at its end as indicated at 51.21 and 51.22 (FIGS. 3 and4). Each tine 51.21, 51.22 is slotted to provide insertion ofarticulating pins 36 of the arms 33, 34 of the pressure member 31.

An actuating lever 61 in the shape ofa bellcrank similar to the linkinglever 51, is pivoted with a hub 62 on the pin 39 which, as mentionedabove, also guides the arms 33, 34 of the pressure member 31. At the endof its arm 61.1, the actuating lever 61 has a latch 64 (FIG. 5). Theother arm 61.2 of the actuating lever 61 carries a stud 63 with a valvebody 65 (FIGS. 2 and 4). This valve body 65 is made of material capableof sealing the valve opening 24, such as soft rubber. The stud 63 hasattached thereto a cord 66 with suitable gripping means such as a ball67 which permits one to reset the mechanism by pulling thereon, as willbe described. A projection 68 of the latch arm 61.1 of actuating lever61 is arranged for contacting the valve nozzle 21.1, fitting over theconventional stern 21.2, both being conventional parts of the aerosolcontainer 20.

A spring or similar force-exerting means 71 is stretched between theactuating lever and the linking lever, biasing the actuating latchbellcrank 61 as well as the linking bellcrank 51 in clockwise direction,normally retaining the catch and latch portions 55, 64, in contact. Itwill be noted that the clockwise torque on 51 is slight as compared tothat of 61. The valve member 65 is made of material having considerablecompression latitude so that the relative positions of the latch andcatch members are not critical.

As shown in FIG. 6, the shell can be made integral with the aerosolbottle as indicated at 12.1 and provided with bayonet slots 14.1 to fitcorresponding pins of the compartment with the mechanism. Thisarrangement makes the bottle proper a supplementary part of the valve,precludes the use of undesirable compounds and facilitates labeling.

Instead of the above-described membrane constituting a movable wallportion of the chamber 11, a bellows device such as shown in FIG. 7 canbe used. In that figure, the rim of the chamber window 23.1 carries,suitably sealed thereto, a commercially available bellows ring 26' whichis on its inner periphery similarly sealed to a plate 32 which issomewhat larger than the disc 32 of FIG. 2.

A further modification is shown in FIG. 8. In this figure, the chamber11 has an extended cylindrical rim portion 23, and the plate 32" has aninwardly extending sleeve 26". In order to obtain the desirablesensitivity, sufficient sealing without excessive friction has to beprovided to fulfill the requirement of easy response to inhalationwithout resort to sucking.

The operation of the above-described device is as follows.

In normal position the control apparatus within the chamber 11 is in theposition shown in FIG. 2, with the catch 55 and the latch 64 engaged,the valve 24, 65 closed and the pressure extension 68 of crank 61distanced from the nozzle portion 21.1 of the aerosol device 20.

When the patient inhales through the mouthpiece 22, the membrane 26 isdeflected inwardly, the inhalation force being dependent upon the areaof the membrane. Upon moving inwardly, the membrane presses against thedisc 32 of the pressure member 31 which causes the bellcrank 51 torotate counterclockwise against the force of spring 71, which however inthis leverage position exerts only a minimal torque. Upon thecounterclockwise rotation of bellcrank 51 the catch 55 releases thelatch 64 and the bellcrank 61 thereupon is moved clockwise by thespring. This movement takes place with considerable force and theprojection 60 of61 presses on the top surface of the aerosol valve 21.1,causing it to deliver its single metered discharge. At the same time,with bellcrank 61 rotating clockwise, the valve body 65 is lifted fromthe seat 24 allowing free air to enter the inside of the chamber andthis air is inhaled by the patient somewhat subsequently to thedischarge proper. The inhalation vacuum level required for operating thedevice and the ingress of atmosphere through the valve 24, 65 can bereadily predetermined to facilitate deep penetration of medicament intothe respiratory tract of a patient.

Upon delivery of this single discharge which cannot be repeated byconsecutive inhalations, the device has to be reset by pulling the ball67 which rotates bellcrank 61 counterclockwise, closes the valve 24, 65and reengages the latch and catch members of the two bcllcranks, andlifts the actuating projection 60 from the nozzle member 21.1 of theaerosol container. The device is thereupon ready for the next discharge.

DESCRIPTION OF A SECOND EMBODIMENT This embodiment has an ultimatelyintegral casing indicated at 100 in FIGS. 9, and 11, consistinginitially of two shells 101, 102, respectively, which after assemblingthe internal mechanism are temporarily joined by interlocking the tongueand groove profiles indicated at 100.1 in FIGS. 14 and 15. Theseprofiles are molded around the shell edges, excepting the five openingsto be described below. The two shells are mirror images of each other,excepting for a few details such as locating pins which are standardexpedients in this technique of fabricating molded articles.

As indicated in FIGS. 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15, the housing which will nowbe treated as an entirety such as after permanent sealing of the twoshells, has two sidewalls 105, 106, a front wall 107, a partition 108, amouthpiece 122, a valve port 124, and an insertion opening 125 for theaerosol container. The housing wall opposite the partition 108 isinitially open with a peripheral groove 101.1 and a lip 101.2 (FIG. 11)to which the air-deflectable member such as the membrane 126 is sealedupon completion of the assembly. The partition 108 leads into the frontwall 107 with a ledge portion 121 which surrounds an opening 120.1 forthe neck of the aerosol container 120. As compared to the firstembodiment which is shown with a normally upright aerosol container, inthis embodiment the container is shown as being inserted with itsdischarging valve nozzle block 121.1 and stem 121.2 pointing downwardly.The nozzle block reaches into the actuating lever 161 as will bedescribed below.

In addition to the above-described openings, the housing has a slit124.1, next to the valve port 124, for insertion of a resetting strap182 to be described below.

The opening 125 for inserting the bottle is provided with abottle-holding lid 112 which is hinged to the sidewalls 105, 106 bymeans of two stubs 112.1 (FIG. 16), one extending on each side, whichare pivoted in corresponding recesses 112.2 of the walls. At the otherend of the lid 112 is a ratchet lock with a grip handle 112.5 and teeth107.1, 107.2 on either side thereof (FIG. 10) which engage correspondingteeth 107.5, 107.6 on either side of a cutout 107.8 (FIGS. 10 and 11) ofthe wall 107. By means of the grip 112.5, the respective teeth can beengaged thereby firmly pressing the aerosol container 120 against theledge 121 thus securely attaching and satisfactorily sealing it to thehousing. This ratchet lock of the bottle holder accommodates a generoustolerance latitude for somewhat varying lengths of bottle 120. It willbe noted that crevices around the bottle-holding lid 112 arepneumatically inconsequential because the bottle compartment is sealedfrom the rest of the housing at the ledge 121.

The membrane 126 of yielding material has a groove between two lips asindicated at 126.1 (FIGS. 11, 14 and 15), shaped to engage thecorresponding peripheral groove 101.1 and lip 101.2 ofthe housing 100.

As shown in FIG. 15 the insides of walls 105, 106 of the housing areprovided with recessed bosses 201, 202, 203, 204 serving to receive thestud fulcrums of the layers to be described below. In addition, thesidewalls have recesses, similar to the lid pivot recesses marked 112.2in FIG. 16, to accommodate a pin 172 for the fixed end of spring 171.

The pressure-collecting member consists in this embodiment ofa plate 132(FIGS. 11 and 14) with two flanges 133, 134 which have split pivot holes135 (FIG. 11) for receiving the pivot pin 136 of the linking lever 151.The plate 132 ex tends practically over the entire area of the membrane126, as shown in FIGSf11, 14 and 15.

The linking lever 151 (FIGS. 11, 14, 15, 20) is pivoted on two studs151.1, 151.2 in the recessed bosses 202, 204 above described withreference to FIG. 15. The linking lever also incorporates an arcuatelymoving pin 13-6 extending on either side of the hub 136.1, engaging andpivoted in the split holes 135 of the two flanges 133, 134 of thepressure plate 132. The saddle 137 of lever 151 receives the lateralbias of the spring 171 (FIGS. 11 and 14). The other end ofthe linkinglever 151 is molded to form between the studs 151.1 and 151.2 a catchface 155 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 20. The above-described parts of thelinking lever 151 are molded in one piece.

The actuating lever 161 (FIGS. 11, 14 and 15) has two flanges 161.1 and161.2, and a web 161.3 with a cross bridge 162.4. The web 161.3 has abulge or cam projection for contacting the nozzle block 121.1 of theaerosol container during operation as indicated in FIG. 13. Theactuating lever 161 is pivoted on two studs 161.6 and 162.7 (FIG. 15) inthe recessed bosses 201 and 203 of the housing. Opposite the pivot161.6, 162.7, the actuating lever has latch faces 162 recessed on thetwo flanges 161.1, 161.2 and thus adapted to engage the catch face 155of the linking lever 151. Opposite the bridge 162.4, the web 161.3carries a valve body 165 of material capable of sealing the valveopening 124, such as soft rubber as described in the first embodiment.Attached to a lip 163 of the actuating lever is a cover and strap memberindicated generally at 101 with a pull strap 102, a breathing aperturecap 185 and a pull tab 186 (FIGS. 9, 11, 13 and 17). The end of thestrap 182 passes through the slit opening 124.1 ofthe housing and isscoredjust outside thereof as indicated at 103 in FIGS. 11 and 17. A tabportion 104 of the strap is sufficiently long and wide to cover thevalve aperture 124 at the bottom of the housing as indicated in FIGS. 11and 9 and then widens to form the cap portion 185. It ends in a tab andlocking portion 106 which has a lip 187 formed to interlock with acorresponding rim 1011 of the breathing aperture. If this lockingarrangement is disengaged and the strap 181 hangs down, the scored strapend 182 (and a portion of 104) which is attached to the lever 161 iscapable of passing through the slit 124.1, permitting the lever 161 tomove inwardly.

At the swinging end of the lever 161 is provided a hole for a hook atone end of the spring 171 which is at its other end attached to the pin172 inserted between two recesses of the housing, as above described.This spring 171, stretched between the points 172 and 100, contacts thesaddle 137 of the linking lever 151 at its moving pivot on the pressureplate 132, biasing the pressure plate towards the membrane 126.

The two flanges 161.1, 161.2 of the actuating lever 161 secure thenozzle block 121.1 against rotation while permitting it to be distancedfrom the aerosol-releasing bulge 1611 of the actuating lever web 161.3.As indicated in FIGS. 18 and 19, the nozzle block has preferably on itslower face an indicator, such as an arrow 191 in order to facilitateinsertion of the bottle with the nozzle 192 pointing in the correctdirection.

The above-described embodiment is made from suitable plastic material,such as medium impact styrene for the internal mechanism and the housingproper, a softer material such as Thermolastic" available under thattrade designation from the Shell Company for the breath-responsivemembrane, and polypropylene for the cover 181 with tab and cap and thebot tle holder 112.

For assembling the inhaler, the mechanism with the two levers, thespring, the pins, and also the strap and bottle holder are in properrelation located in one shell, and the other shell is then snapped on bymeans of the tongue and groove edges. The membrane is applied in similarfashion. The two shells may then be permanently sealed to each other,and the membrane to the shells, by applying ultrasonic vibration energyin the manner well known in the art of fabricating plastic articles.

The sealed housing is essentially a parallelepiped with the membrane 126forming one long and narrow side thereof, the container opening in oneshort and narrow side, the air admission port in the other short andnarrow side, and the suction and discharge aperture at the edge formedby the other short and narrow side and the long and narrow side oppositethe membrane. The partition 108 of the bottle compartment is parallel tothe membrane 112, and the bottle-sealing ledge 12] is normal thereto.

The operation of the above-described second embodiment of the inventionis as follows:

In order to make the inhaler ready for operation, the bottle holder 112is opened, an aerosol container 120 of suitable size is inserted, andthe holder 112 secured with the lock 112.5. During insertion of thecontainer, the nozzle block is advanced through the opening 120.1 of therim 121 until paralleled by the two flanges of the actuating lever 161as shown in FIG. 15. Correct placement of the nozzle opening 192 isfacilitated by the arrow embossed on the block, as shown in FIG. 19. Thecover 184 is by its tab 186 pulled over the valve port 124 and themouthpiece 122, and secured by engaging the tab with the lip 188. Inthis condition the device is secured against accidental operationincluding depression of the membrane 126 and can be safely carried in apocket or bag. The disengagement of latch 162 and catch 155, as shown inFIG. 11 provides a condition which precludes inadvertent discharge andthe necessity for recocking should the membrane he accidentallydepressed sufficient for normal operatron.

For using the inhaler, the strap 181 is released at its locking portion187, 188 to uncover the mouthpiece 122 and also the valve port 124.Subsequent to inhalation, it will then be in the position shown in FIG.13. As indicated by the facial silhouette in FIG. 13, prior toinhalation the opening 122 is inserted in the mouth of the patient whocan easily hold the inhaler in one hand since it can be made very small,such as not more than about 4 inches high. The first inhalation willdeflect the membrane 126 as indicated in FIG. 13, moving the pres suremember 132 against the pressure of spring 171 at its saddle 137, whichis incidental to operation but essential for resetting. The lever 151turns on its pivots 151.1 and 151.2 and releases the catch 155 from thelatch 162 of the actuating lever 161. This lever, turning on its pivots161.6, 161.7 is pulled forcefully upwardly by the spring 171, and itsimpinge ment projection 168 pushes the nozzle block 121.1 upwardly, thuscausing the aerosol container to discharge as indicated by arrows inFIG. 13. Air is simultaneously admitted through port 124.

As described above with reference to the first embodiment, theabove-outlined single discharge cannot be repeated by consecutiveinhalation since the latch and the catch are safely disengaged with thenozzle block 121.1 fixated by the tension of the spring 171. Forrepeated use, the device has to be reset by pulling on the strap 181which will turn the lever 161 downwardly for engagement of its latch 162with the catch 155 of the linking lever 151. The operation can then berepeated, or if the treatment is for the time being terminated, the tab186 may again be engaged at 188 thus safely securing the lever 161 inits triggered position and at the same time closing the mouthpiece 122with the cap 185, and the valve with the strap 182. It will be evidentthat storing of the cocked device with the cover 181 hanging down wouldbe quite inconvenient, the tab reminding the user of the insecuredposition, and providing strong inducement to lock the cap.

Due to the present peculiar coordination of the latch and the catch, ascomparatively indicated at FIGS. 11 and 12, respectively, the securedresetting strap locks the biasing member by snubbing action whichprevents spurious operation, during travel for example, as follows. Asindicated in FIG. 11, the catch and latch surfaces and 162 are separatedwhen the mouthpiece is closed, rendering ineffective any accidentalmovement of the membrane 126 and the linking lever 151. Thus, if themoving walls were accidentally depressed the mechanism will return to aposition in readiness for operation when the accidental depressing forceis removed. When the mouthpiece cap and resetting strap are released,the two surfaces 155 and 162 will contact as shown in FIG. 12, thusperfecting readiness for triggering by a comparatively very slightinhalation pressure pulling at the inside of the membrane.

It will now be evident that the second embodiment facilitatesmanufacture and provides a particularly simple as well as accidentproofand tamperproof construction. It was found that the spring as used inthe second embodiment provides strong aerosol-releasing impact energyfor actuating the trigger arrangement, but provides a lessertrigger'cocking force more softly but also more effectively responsiveto slight inhalation under pressure, by biasing the linking memberagainst the side of the spring at right angles to a line subtending thespring anchorage points.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that this invention includes all modificationsand equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device adapted to receive aconventional aerosol container of the type having a container body and avalve means mounted on said container body, said valve means releasing ametered amount of aerosol compound when moved toward said container bodyand reloading upon moving away from said container body and to actuatesaid valve means to release said metered amount of aerosol compound at apredetermined portion of the inhalation phase ofa breathing cycle, saiddevice comprising,

a walled chamber,

an apertured portion of said chamber forming a mouthpiece,

aperture means in said chamber in the vicinity of said mouthpiece forreceiving the valve means portion of said container within said chamberin position to discharge said metered amount of aerosol compound throughsaid mouthpiece,

means for at least temporarily retaining said aerosol container in afixed position relative to said chamber with the body of said containeroutside said chamber and the valve means portion in position within saidchamber,

a window in said chamber remote from said mouthpiece,

an air-deflectable member comprising a movable wall portion associatedwith said window and adapted to move between a first position in whichsaid movable wall portion at least substantially fills said window and asecond position toward the interior of said chamber relative to saidfirst position,

a linking lever pivotally mounted within said chamber,

said linking lever having a catch means and a portion associated withsaid movable wall portion to cause said lever to move about said pivotresponsive to the motion of said movable wall portion,

an actuating lever pivotally mounted within said chamber,

said actuating lever having a latch means adapted to cooperate with thesaid catch means on said linking member and having a portion adapted topress against said valve means on said aerosol container,

spring means to bias said movable wall portion to the said firstposition and correspondingly said catch toward the said latch and tomove said actuating lever into pressing engagement with said valve meanswhen said catch and said latch are released,

said movable wall portion, said linking lever, said catch, said latch,said actuating lever and said spring means together constituting anactuating mechanism, resetting means associated with said actuatinglever and passing to the outside of said chamber adapted to move saidactuating lever against the force of said spring means to remove saidactuating lever from pressing engagement with said valve means and tomove said latch into position to contact and engage said catch, airvalve means associated with said actuating mechanism at a positionremote from said mouthpiece relative to. said valve means to admit airfreely from the outside of said chamber responsive to the motion of saidmovable wall portion from said first position to said second position,

said chamber, when said movable wall portion is in said first position,being substantially isolated from the ingress of free air except throughsaid mouthpiece,

whereby when said actuating mechanism is in a normal cocked conditionwith the movable wall portion in said first position and with said catchmeans contacting said latch means, the egress of air from said chamberthrough said mouthpiece as in the inhalation phase of a breathing cycleactuates said actuating mechanism by causing said movable wall portionof said air dcflectable member to move from said first position to saidsecond position thereby rotating said linking lever about its pivotreleasing said catch from said latch thereby releasing said actuatinglever to press against said valve member releasing a metered charge fromsaid aerosol container, the actuation of said actuating mechanismsimultaneously opening said air valve means to freely admit outside airinto said chamber.

2. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim 1wherein said movable wall portion includes a plate member whichsubstantially fills said window when in said first position with theperipheral edge of said wall portion in close proximity to but separatedfrom the rim of said window.

3. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim 1wherein said movable wall portion includes a flexible membrane meansextending over said window and affixed to the rim thereof.

4. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim Iwherein said movable wall portion includes a bellows ring means arrangedin flexing relation between the periphery of said wall portion and therim ofsaid window.

5. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim llwherein said means for retaining said aerosol eontainer in a fixedposition relative to said chamber includes a shell means formedintegrally with said chamber, a ledge portion of said shell meanssurrounding said aperture means for receiving the valve means portion ofsaid container adapted to receive in sealing engagement that portion ofthe container body surrounding said valve means, and means for retainingsaid container body and pressing the same against said ledge.

6. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim 5,wherein said shell means comprises a container housing and said meansfor retaining said container body com prises a movable member associatedwith said container housing adapted to press against that portion ofsaid container body opposite said valve means.

7. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim 6,wherein said movable member comprises a containerholding lid pivotallymounted at one end to said housing and provided with a ratchet lockadapted to engage corresponding teeth on the wall ofthe containerhousing at the other end.

ti. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim 5,wherein said shell means is generally cylindrical in shape, is providedwith end closing means including an elastic biasing member adapted topress against that portion of said container body opposite said valvemeans and an intermediate disconnect portion.

9. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim 8,wherein said disconnect portion comprises a bayonet joint.

ill

10. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim llwherein said resetting means includes a pull strap and a cover means,said cover means adapted to removably cover said mouthpiece.

ll. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim 10,wherein said cover means includes means wherein when said cover meanscovers said mouthpiece there is sufficient tension on said strap toretain said latch beyond the contact point with said catch wherebyaccidental movement of said movable wall portion will not uncock saidactivating mechanism. x

12. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim I,wherein said linking lever and said actuating lever are substantiallystraight members, said linking lever being pivotally mounted at anintermediate point with said portion associated with said movable wallportion on one face of said lever on one side of said pivot and saidcatch on the opposite face of said lever on the other side of said pivotand said actuating lever being pivotally mounted at one end adjacentsaid mouthpiece having said latch means at the end opposite said pivotand the portion adapted to press against said valve means on one face ofsaid lever intermediate said pivot and said latch.

13. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim l2,wherein said spring means extends under tension generally parallel tosaid linking lever between a point on said actuating lever adjacent saidlatch and a point associated with said wall of said chamber beyond theportion of said linking lever associated with said movable wall portion.

114. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim i3wherein the side of said spring rests against a point on said linkinglever adjacent the portion of said lever associated with said movablewall portion thereby biasing said movable wall portion toward said firstposition.

15. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim 12wherein said air valve means comprises an air valve body mounted on saidactuating lever adjacent said portion adapted to press against saidcontainer valve means but on the opposite face of said lever and anassociated air admission port in the wall of said chamber.

16. An inhalation-actuated dispensing; device as claimed in claim l5wherein said resetting means is a strap member passing from the end ofsaid actuating lever through an aperture adjacent said air admissionport in the wall of said chamber, said strap member having a coverportion adapted to removably cover said mouthpiece and an intermediatewidened portion adapted to cover said air admission port opening whensaid mouthpiece cover portion is in covering position.

17. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim ll,wherein said linking lever and said actuating lever are each a bellcrankpivoted at a midpoint, wherein the portion of said linking leverassociated with the movable wall portion is adjacent the end of a firstarm of said linking lever bellcrank and said catch means is adjacent theend of a second arm of said linking lever bellcrank, and wherein saidlatch means is adjacent a first arm of said actuating lever bellcrankand said portion of said actuating lever adapted to press against saidvalve means is at a midportion of said first arm of said actual inglever bellcrank.

18. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim 17,wherein said spring means comprises a spring mounted under tension atone end to an intermediate portion of a second arm of said actuatinglever bellcrank and at the bellcrank end to the second said arm of saidlinking lever bellcrank adjacent the pivot thereof.

l9. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim 17,wherein said resetting means is located near the end of said second armof said actuating lever bellcrank 20. An inhalatiomactuated dispensingdevice as claimed in claim 17, wherein said air valve means comprises anair valve body mounted adjacent the end of said second arm of saidactuating lever bellcrank and an associated air admission port in thewall of said chamber.

posite end with the pivot for said actuating lever bellcrank and the endof said first arm of said linking lever bellcrank is slidingly engagedto a pin at an intermediate portion of said arm member.

1. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device adapted to receive aconventional aerosol container of the type having a container body and avalve means mounted on said container body, said valve means releasing ametered amount of aerosol compound when moved toward said container bodyand reloading upon moving away from said container body and to actuatesaid valve means to release said metered amount of aerosol compound at apredetermined portion of the inhalation phase of a breathing cycle, saiddevice comprising, a walled chamber, an apertured portion of saidchamber forming a mouthpiece, aperture means in said chamber in thevicinity of said mouthpiece for receiving the valve means portion ofsaid container within said chamber in position to discharge said meteredamount of aerosol compound through said mouthpiece, means for at leasttemporarily retaining said aerosol container in a fixed positionrelative to said chamber with the body of said container outside saidchamber and the valve means portion in position within said chamber, awindow in said chamber remote from said mouthpiece, an air-deflectablemember comprising a movable wall portion associated with said window andadapted to move between a first position in which said movable wallportion at least substantially fills said window and a second positiontoward the interior of said chamber relative to said first position, alinking lever pivotally mounted within said chamber, said linking leverhaving a catch means and a portion associated with said movable wallportion to cause said lever to move about said pivot responsive to themotion of said movable wall portion, an actuating lever pivotallymounted within said chamber, said actuating lever having a latch meansadapted to cooperate with the said catch means on said linking memberand having a portion adapted to press against said valve means on saidaerosol container, spring means to bias said movable wall portion to thesaid first position and correspondingly said catch toward the said latchand to move said actuating lever into pressing engagement with saidvalve means when said catch and said latch are released, said movablewall portion, said linking lever, said catch, said latch, said actuatinglever and said spring means together constituting an actuatingmechanism, resetting means associated with said actuating lever andpassing to the outside of said chamber adapted to move said actuatinglever against the force of said spring means to remove said actuatinglever from pressing engagement with said valve means and to move saidlatch into position to contact and engage said catch, air valve meansassociated with said actuating mechanism at a position remote from saidmouthpiece relative to said valve means to admit air freely from theoutside of said chamber responsive to the motion of said movable wallportion from said first position to said second position, said chamber,when said movable wall portion is in said first position, beingsubstantially isolated from the ingress of free air except through saidmouthpiece, whereby when said actuating mechanism is in a normal cockedcondition with the movable wall portion in said first position and withsaid catch means contacting said latch means, the egress of air fromsaid chamber through said mouthpiece as in the inhalation phase of abreathing cycle actuates said actUating mechanism by causing saidmovable wall portion of said air deflectable member to move from saidfirst position to said second position thereby rotating said linkinglever about its pivot releasing said catch from said latch therebyreleasing said actuating lever to press against said valve memberreleasing a metered charge from said aerosol container, the actuation ofsaid actuating mechanism simultaneously opening said air valve means tofreely admit outside air into said chamber.
 2. An inhalation-actuateddispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said movable wallportion includes a plate member which substantially fills said windowwhen in said first position with the peripheral edge of said wallportion in close proximity to but separated from the rim of said window.3. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim 1wherein said movable wall portion includes a flexible membrane meansextending over said window and affixed to the rim thereof.
 4. Aninhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidmovable wall portion includes a bellows ring means arranged in flexingrelation between the periphery of said wall portion and the rim of saidwindow.
 5. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim1 wherein said means for retaining said aerosol container in a fixedposition relative to said chamber includes a shell means formedintegrally with said chamber, a ledge portion of said shell meanssurrounding said aperture means for receiving the valve means portion ofsaid container adapted to receive in sealing engagement that portion ofthe container body surrounding said valve means, and means for retainingsaid container body and pressing the same against said ledge.
 6. Aninhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim 5, whereinsaid shell means comprises a container housing and said means forretaining said container body comprises a movable member associated withsaid container housing adapted to press against that portion of saidcontainer body opposite said valve means.
 7. An inhalation-actuateddispensing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said movable membercomprises a container-holding lid pivotally mounted at one end to saidhousing and provided with a ratchet lock adapted to engage correspondingteeth on the wall of the container housing at the other end.
 8. Aninhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim 5, whereinsaid shell means is generally cylindrical in shape, is provided with endclosing means including an elastic biasing member adapted to pressagainst that portion of said container body opposite said valve meansand an intermediate disconnect portion.
 9. An inhalation-actuateddispensing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said disconnect portioncomprises a bayonet joint.
 10. An inhalation-actuated dispensing deviceas claimed in claim 1 wherein said resetting means includes a pull strapand a cover means, said cover means adapted to removably cover saidmouthpiece.
 11. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed inclaim 10, wherein said cover means includes means wherein when saidcover means covers said mouthpiece there is sufficient tension on saidstrap to retain said latch beyond the contact point with said catchwhereby accidental movement of said movable wall portion will not uncocksaid activating mechanism.
 12. An inhalation-actuated dispensing deviceas claimed in claim 1, wherein said linking lever and said actuatinglever are substantially straight members, said linking lever beingpivotally mounted at an intermediate point with said portion associatedwith said movable wall portion on one face of said lever on one side ofsaid pivot and said catch on the opposite face of said lever on theother side of said pivot and said actuating lever being pivotallymounted at one end adjacent said mouthpiece having said latch means atthe end opposite said pivot and the portion adapted to press againstsaid valve meanS on one face of said lever intermediate said pivot andsaid latch.
 13. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed inclaim 12, wherein said spring means extends under tension generallyparallel to said linking lever between a point on said actuating leveradjacent said latch and a point associated with said wall of saidchamber beyond the portion of said linking lever associated with saidmovable wall portion.
 14. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device asclaimed in claim 13 wherein the side of said spring rests against apoint on said linking lever adjacent the portion of said leverassociated with said movable wall portion thereby biasing said movablewall portion toward said first position.
 15. An inhalation-actuateddispensing device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said air valve meanscomprises an air valve body mounted on said actuating lever adjacentsaid portion adapted to press against said container valve means but onthe opposite face of said lever and an associated air admission port inthe wall of said chamber.
 16. An inhalation-actuated dispensing deviceas claimed in claim 15 wherein said resetting means is a strap memberpassing from the end of said actuating lever through an apertureadjacent said air admission port in the wall of said chamber, said strapmember having a cover portion adapted to removably cover said mouthpieceand an intermediate widened portion adapted to cover said air admissionport opening when said mouthpiece cover portion is in covering position.17. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,wherein said linking lever and said actuating lever are each a bellcrankpivoted at a midpoint, wherein the portion of said linking leverassociated with the movable wall portion is adjacent the end of a firstarm of said linking lever bellcrank and said catch means is adjacent theend of a second arm of said linking lever bellcrank, and wherein saidlatch means is adjacent a first arm of said actuating lever bellcrankand said portion of said actuating lever adapted to press against saidvalve means is at a midportion of said first arm of said actuating leverbellcrank.
 18. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed inclaim 17, wherein said spring means comprises a spring mounted undertension at one end to an intermediate portion of a second arm of saidactuating lever bellcrank and at the other end to the second said arm ofsaid linking lever bellcrank adjacent the pivot thereof.
 19. Aninhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed in claim 17, whereinsaid resetting means is located near the end of said second arm of saidactuating lever bellcrank
 20. An inhalation-actuated dispensing deviceas claimed in claim 17, wherein said air valve means comprises an airvalve body mounted adjacent the end of said second arm of said actuatinglever bellcrank and an associated air admission port in the wall of saidchamber.
 21. An inhalation-actuated dispensing device as claimed inclaim 20, wherein said resetting means comprises a flexible member thatpasses through said air admission port.
 22. An inhalation-actuateddispensing device as claimed in claim 17 wherein said movable wallportion is mounted on an arm member, which arm member is slidablyengaged at its opposite end with the pivot for said actuating leverbellcrank and the end of said first arm of said linking lever bellcrankis slidingly engaged to a pin at an intermediate portion of said armmember.